Shanghai leads the way to title showdown

Formula One has now said farewell to Europe and this coming weekend's
Chinese Grand Prix leads the way to the title showdown in the last three
races of the 2006 season. And it couldn't get much closer; with just two
points between Fernando Alonso...

Formula One has now said farewell to Europe and this coming weekend's
Chinese Grand Prix leads the way to the title showdown in the last three
races of the 2006 season. And it couldn't get much closer; with just two
points between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher and three between
Ferrari and Renault there's no clear-cut advantage in either
championship fight.

The spectacular Shanghai International Circuit architecture.

Photo by LAT Photographic.

The 5.5 km Shanghai International Circuit is an impressive, modern
facility with a wide track and a mixture of high speed straights
and tight, twisty corners. The width gives good opportunities for
overtaking while the layout is challenging for drivers and teams alike
-- especially the very long right-handed turn one.

"The main consequence is that it puts the emphasis on graining and wear
on the front left tyre," said Toyota chassis chief Pascal Vasselon.
"At turn one you see the highest loads on the steering system from the
entire season because of the combination of very high cornering and
braking accelerations all together."

For the tyre manufacturers Shanghai is unusual, as for each of the three
races at the circuit, including this one, there have been different tyre rules in
place. "Consequently we have had to work just as hard as we did in each
of the two previous years to make sure we select appropriate products,"
said Michelin director Nick Shorrock.

"Shanghai is a very distinctive track, with a couple of slow corners
that seem to go on forever and two very long straights. At some points
cars reach speeds well in excess of 300kph (186mph). Good traction is
imperative for the twisty parts of the circuit, although tyres are
subjected to fewer mechanical/thermal demands here than they are at some
other venues."

Rubens Barrichello.

Photo by xpb.cc.

The circuit is generally popular with the drivers, especially Honda's
Rubens Barrichello. "The Shanghai circuit is extremely impressive but
more importantly it has a challenging track layout," he said. "The venue
holds some pretty special memories for me as I won the very first Grand
Prix there from pole position in 2004 which was a great weekend."

Renault won the constructors' title in China last year but this time
drivers' standings leader Alonso knows it will be a tough race. "We have
been saying all year that you cannot predict what will happen on track,
with the competition being so close," he commented. "Instead, we are
focused on our objectives, and that means qualifying at the front and
winning the race. That will be the target."

Many think that Ferrari has the upper hand at the moment but, while that
may be true, Schumacher hasn't had much luck at Shanghai. In 2004, after
a spin in qualifying he started from the pit lane and finished 12th and
last year he also started from the pit lane, after crashing with the
Minardi of Christijan Albers on the way to the grid, then spun off in
the race.

"I still have a point to prove at Shanghai," the German conceded. "Both
races I have disputed here have not gone very well… however, we have
a better all round set up and hope to improve the result. Our aim is
clear: we have to focus on the title. I feel that our best chance lies
in the constructors' championship. Obviously I would like to claim both
crowns and we will be going all out."

Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher.

Photo by xpb.cc.

Ferrari's two point lead in the constructors' has been in no small part
due to Schumacher's teammate Felipe Massa. The Brazilian has proved his
worth this season and is currently third in the drivers' standings,
ahead of Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella. Behind Ferrari and Renault
there have been disappointing performances from two teams that really
should have been in the title fight as well.

Honda is the only outfit that has ascended to the top step aside from
the above two, it and Jenson Button's maiden win in Hungary. It may have
been as much circumstances as performance but with the likes of Alonso,
Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen out of the way, Button came through. He
and teammate Barrichello have been on the Shanghai podium before.

"We go to China encouraged by our recent race performances and our most
recent test in Jerez which was our last opportunity to evaluate all the
developments that we intend to use in the final three races," said Honda
sporting director Gil de Ferran. "Hopefully we can maintain our steady
progression in performance and be fighting at the front of the field yet
again."

McLaren has yet to win a race this season, which presumably aided
Raikkonen's decision to depart for Ferrari in 2007. The Finn will
replace the retiring Schumacher but before his tenure with the Woking
squad is over he aims to get that victory. "So far in China I have
finished in third and second and my aim for this year is to take the top
step of the podium with Team McLaren Mercedes," Raikkonen stated.

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld.

Photo by xpb.cc.

There's only three points between BMW Sauber and Toyota for fifth in the
constructors' which is no doubt quite pleases the former but not the
latter. In its first season as a team in its own right BMW has scored
two podium finishes, third each for Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica,
which is more than the team was actually expecting.

Kubica is making a favourable impression and hopes to continue to
do so in is first race for the team outside Europe. "The layout of
the Shanghai International Circuit looks very interesting and it is
characterised by a couple of very original corners," he said. "When
I drive it for the first time, I will be able to draw on the F1 race
experience I've now built up. It will be my fourth grand prix and I hope
it will be a successful one."

Red Bull has changes to its driver line-up for this weekend. Tester
Robert Doornbos steps up to the second race seat to replace Christian
Klien, while GP2 racer Michael Ammerm?ller takes Doornbos' Friday third
driver role. Ammerm?ller, who tested for Red Bull at Jerez last week,
will also be in the third cockpit for Japan.

"Working with the team at the test in Jerez it was obvious it has big
ambitions, which is very motivating," the German commented. "I'm now
completely focused on my task ahead. I'll be looking to learn as much as
possible and I'm in the right place and with the right team to be able
to do that."

With only three races left and the championships finely balanced,
there's not going to be anything less than fighting talk from those
involved. Both Ferrari and Renault and Alonso and Schumacher are capable
of doing what's necessary so anything is possible. If I had to hazard a
guess at the ultimate outcome I would say Alonso for the drivers' and
Ferrari for the constructors' -- but ask me again after this weekend.